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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007 - Human Relations Commission - Annual Report2007 HRC Year End Report January 10, 2007 The Fort Collins Human Relations Commission experienced high turnover in 2007. Despite this, we were able to move forward with our Work Plan and feel that we have made some good progress in our new endeavors. As part of our effort to collaborate more with other community organizations, we participated in Deliberative Dialogue workshops with the NCMC (Northern Colorado Multicultural Corporation). The HRC Chair attended the Community Forum that Addresses Hunger, Homelessness, and Health Care Crisis. The 2007 Paycheck Away Project has organized a series of statewide community forums aimed at identifying solutions to hunger, homelessness and the health care crisis. Nine different nonprofit and advocacy groups are sponsoring these town forums to identify causes, effects, and solutions to this growing challenge for so many Colorado families. The group is interested in a HRC representative on their panel. The HRC Chair also attended a panel discussion hosted by Fuerza Latina and Kim Medina (nee Salinas). Broken Families/Broken System: a Personal Look at Immigration. The HRC has pledged to educate themselves on the immigration issues, specifically how it affects the Fort Collins. Education Committee HRC pamphlets were updated, printed and distributed at the NIOTA Forum in November along with Human Rights Award nomination forms. The second HRC Retreat was held in the summer and facilitated by Mims Harris. All HRC members attended along with our new City Council Liaison Lisa Poppaw. The HRC sponsored a table at the 4th Annual "Pride in the Park" in June. The HRC continues to support the ERASISM Film Series including one member moderating a post movie discussion. We had several speakers make a short presentation prior to our regular meeting including: Tom Sander a recently relocated and retired journalist. Ruth Cucher, local coordinator of the national organization CODEPINK. Harry Edwards, Chair of the Citizens Review Board (CRB) Rebecca Morris new community member. Cheryl Distasso, Center for Peace and Justice Martin Carcasson, Director of CSU's Center for Public Deliberation Caryl and Robert Schonbrun asked to be heard on their issue with their neighbor and her chemical intolerance. A member of the HRC helped judge the essays for the MLK student essay contest. Government Relations Committee All City Council meetings, Citizen Review Board meetings, Senior Advisory Council meetings, Larimer County Office on Aging, NCMC meetings and NIOTA meetings were attended and/or monitored. The HRC maintains and updates regularly a list of translators available to citizens who may need this service. This committee collaborated with Police Chief Dennis Harrison and Lisa Poppaw on an editorial piece that was published in the Fort Collins Coloradoan. This article's focus was on Hate Crimes, and the city's response to them. The Committee continues to monitor new legislation and make recommendations to City Council. This committee submitted a Human Right's Day Proclamation that was presented by Mayor Hutchinson in December. This committee worked with Russ Reed of Police Services Internal Affairs to get complaint process information and forms both available in English and Spanish at http://fcqov.com/police/employee-conduct.12hp. Media/Community Outreach Committee Once again the HRC conducted a search for individuals, groups, companies or organizations that inspire contributions and leadership on behalf of minority or disadvantaged citizens to the betterment of the community. A Breakfast was held at the Lincoln Center and awards were presented to the winners. Guest speaker was Eric Aoki of CSU. The committee worked to finalize changes to the on-line nomination form that will be posted at www.fcciov.com/hra for the 2008 Awards. The form can be completed on-line, emailed, faxed, and mailed. The HRC has agreed to become more actively involved with CSU's Center for Public Deliberation. James Ross has agreed to volunteer on the Board for the Center. The HRC had a representative on the Holiday Display Task Force that completed its work and submitted a recommendation to City Council for consideration at their November 20 meeting. The Committee had several editorials published in The Coloradoan.